Morning Links

With so much interesting stuff out there, I figured I'd toss up a quick AM post. Your gameday thread will appear later this afternoon.

Ricardo Clark gets an MLS-record nine-game suspension, which means he'd be out for MLS Cup. Dynamo PR says he's appealing the suspension, and will not comment. Too much? Not enough? Just right? Don Garber channeling David Stern?

Red Bulls crash and burn against Toronto (thanks to former Terp Edu), increasing the possibility of a second-straight DCU-NYRB meeting in the Eastern semifinals.

Obviously the immediate goal is the Supporters Shield, but if I'm doing the math correctly, DCU could still be seeded either E1 or E2, and could face NY, KC, Chicago, Columbus, Colorado or even LA in the first round of the playoffs (the latter two possibilities would require both Colorado and LA to qualify, along with Dallas; a KC win tonight makes that all but impossible.). As things stand right now, DCU would face KC. If KC wins tonight the Wiz would draw even with NYRB and currently hold the tiebreaker. After KC and NY face each other next weekend, KC finishes @ Dallas, and NY finishes @ LA. Any first-round preferences?

Our college soccer coverage has taken a major hit with the absence of Goffinho, but the Terps have their ACC home opener tonight vs. Clemson. Neither team is ranked, but the game can be seen on Fox Soccer Channel. No. 5 Virginia hosts UNC tomorrow night, while the big game of the weekend is tonight in Blacksburg: No. 1 Wake Forest at No. 9 Virginia Tech. Va. Tech loyalist and Soccer Insider regular Sitruc will be sure to offer his thoughts. Also, here's a profile of new Mason assistant Kenny Arena.

Finally, I will use some of my afternoon to attempt to write up a brief piece about the Starting 11 Girls. You know, the new KC hospitality squad of attractive women who help fans find their seats, throw t-shirts into the crowd, etc. Here are the 15 Starting 11 Girls, here's their MySpace page, here's the press release announcing their creation (sophisticated and classy!) and here's a video day in the life of a Starting 11 Girl. And seriously, I know this has been said before, but with the Houston Dynamo around, doesn't Kansas City have to change the name of mascot Dynamo the Dragon eventually? Would the Yankees name their mascot "Mr. Red Sock?"